The Aeneid

In Book 1 of the Aeneid we open up with Virgil calling upon the muses so that they might help him relay the story of the founding of Rome. Aeneas, who is destined to found Rome, is sailing to Italy after the Trojan War. Juno, queen of the gods, hates the Trojans and wants them dead. She despairs, however, because the Fates have prevented her from doing anything to Aeneas and his friends. Even with this knowledge, she goes to King Aeolus, keeper of the winds, and asks him to send forth his winds to destroy Aeneas. He does so, causing Aeneas and his men to sail to the first piece of land they can find. Neptune, god of the sea and storms, is angered by the winds' storm and causes it to stop. Venus, goddess of love and mother of Aeneas, seeing what is happening to her son, goes to see Jupiter,king of the gods. Jupiter consoles Venus and reassures her that Aeneas will be the founder of Rome. Venus then goes to see Aeneas, disguised as a huntress and tells him of Dido the queen of Carthage. Aeneas and his men set out to find Dido and when they do, Aeneas proceeds to explain what has happened to them. Venus then sends Cupid, her son, to "poison" Dido so that she will fall madly in love with Aeneas.